Enter Fire Sanctuary after Scrapper extinguishes its entrance barrier. Obtain the Mogma Mitts, collect the dungeon’s bottle and Piece of Heart, and find the Mysterious Crystals before the second Ghirahim battle.
Fire Sanctuary – Water fruits and lava
Activate the bird statue directly behind the entrance and then go down the wide stairs. After just a few meters, a large lava lake blocks the path. A green water fruit hangs above the glowing surface. Hit them with an arrow, the Slingshot, the Beetle or the Clawshots. As soon as the fruit falls into the lava, it suddenly cools the surface and creates a small stone platform.
The platform will only exist for a short time. Therefore, immediately jump and continue to the opposite side. This mechanic will accompany you through the entire dungeon. A water fruit can create more than just a stationary platform: If it falls into a flowing lava stream, the cooled stone slab moves with the flow and therefore functions like a raft.
This is exactly what happens in the next section. Shoot down the water fruit above the lava flow and jump onto the resulting platform. Several Bokoblin archers try to hit Link while driving. Use your bow and kill them as early as possible. With the Iron Bow or Holy Bow you can eliminate opponents from a long distance.
As soon as the platform reaches the end of the stream, jump onto solid ground and run up the stairs.
Treasure Chest 1 – first Small Key
Several Bokoblins guard the upper area. Defeat all enemies. Only when the last Bokoblin has been completed does the grid in front of the blue Treasure Chest move up.
Open the chest and you will receive the first Small Key of the Fire Sanctuary. Then jump back to the lower level and use it to open the locked door.
Directly behind you will meet the Mogma leader Goldo or Guld. His group is also in the sanctuary looking for a legendary treasure. He tells you an old Mogma wisdom: When two statues face each other, the path to the great treasure should go through the one sleeping of the two heads. Remember this note – we’ll need it much later.
Cross the Outdoor Area and Defeat Dark Lizalfos
Leave the room and Link will briefly be out in the open again. In the distance you can already see the large boss door of the sanctuary, but the direct route there is still far from accessible. Follow the only accessible path and go through the next door.
Inside there are stairs leading down. Dark bats can place a curse on Link here. If he is hit, he will be unable to use weapons or items for a short period of time. It is therefore best to switch them off from a distance.
Treasure Chest 2 – red Rupee
From the entrance to the room, go left and follow the short hallway. At the end there is a small Treasure Chest. Inside is a red Rupee worth 20 Rupees.
Return and then take the other path down. Below you is a lava pool covered with a metal grid. There is a small stone slab on the grid. Jump down and stand on it.
Use the first Magmanos as an elevator
A huge hand suddenly rises from the lava: a Magmanos. At the moment you have no way of permanently defeating them. That’s exactly why we use their attack for our own advancement.
Stand on the small stone platform. As soon as the Magmanos shoots out from under Link, it lifts the entire plate several meters into the air. Jump onto the raised ledge at the highest point.
Climb up the vines and eliminate the Bokoblin. Further ahead you have to climb along a long, overgrown wall. Be sure to take out the archers on the opposite side with your bow first. A single arrow hit during the climbing passage would throw Link back onto the grate and directly into the Magmanos’s attack area.
At the end you will reach an area with a bird statue. Activate it and go through the next door.
Miniboss: Dark Lizalfos
The door locks behind Link and a Sinister Lizalfos appears. Basically, the opponent fights in a similar way to the normal Lizalfos from the Earth Temple. He blocks attacks with his armored arm and counters if you blindly hit his defenses.
The key difference is his breathing attack. Instead of fire, the sinister Lizalfos breathes a dark cloud of curses. If Link is hit by this, he will be unable to use any weapons or items for a short period of time. Therefore, jump to the side as soon as the opponent pulls his head back and prepares the attack.
The safest way to fight is with shield attacks. Parry his blow as soon as he swings and use the short stun for multiple hits. Alternatively, you can use bombs or arrows. After the victory, the doors open again.
Reactivate the lava flow
Go through the western door. There is currently hardly any lava flowing in the following large room. Several Cursed Spume or cursed fire enemies are in the remaining lava pools. If possible, kill them with arrows or bombs so that they don’t disturb you during the puzzle.
On the north side you will see a large stone head. Its mouth is blocked by a rock. The opening is inaccessible to Link, but your Hook Beetle can fly through a narrow tunnel.
Start the Beetle, fly through the opening and pick up the thunder flower growing there. Then head to the blocked mouth and drop the bomb directly on the boulder. After the explosion, the lava begins to flow through the room again.
Now shoot the water fruit. The resulting platform is carried away by the lava flow. Jump on it and let yourself be transported to the western side. The western door is locked, so first go through the door to the north.
Treasure Chest 3 – second Small Key
In the next room, the Mogma Silvo is hanging over a lava pit. You can’t free him yet. First go past him and use the Gust Bellows to remove the glowing deposits or lava ash on the floor.
Work your way to the north end of the room. There is a blue Treasure Chest. Open it and you will get the second Small Key.
Return to the room with the lava flow and use the key on the previously locked western door.
Treasure Chest 4 – another red Rupee
The following room is heavily overgrown and contains several water fruits. First run to the south side and take the right or accessible stairs up. On the lower side path there is a small Treasure Chest. Inside is another red Rupee worth 20 Rupees.
Treasure Chest 5 – Monster Horn
Then climb to the upper level. On the western platform is another blue Treasure Chest. It contains a Monster Horn. The find is particularly useful because monster horns are required for several high-value upgrades on Gondo. If you want to check which materials you are still missing for a bow, shield or quiver, you can find all the requirements in our guide to the treasures in Skyward Sword.
In the north a wall of fire blocks the further path. There is a stone frog statue above it. This time you don’t need Empty Bottle with water. Approach one of the water fruits and perform a piercing attack. The fruit gets stuck on Link’s sword tip.
Go to the frog and throw the water fruit into its open mouth with another sword movement. The fire barrier goes out and the path becomes clear.
Intermediate battle against two Magmanos
The following room contains the same two magmands in the lava pool. Unlike the first hand, this time you can finally defeat them.
First let one of the hands on the stone platform catapult you upwards. Water fruits grow on the elevated level. Impale one of them on your sword with a stab attack and jump back down.
Wait for a Magmanos to emerge from the lava and throw the water fruit directly at its palm. The lava instantly cools and the entire hand turns to stone for a short time. Run over and hit it with your sword several times until it breaks.
Repeat the principle with the second Magmanos. Once both hands are destroyed, the lava level in the room will completely drop. This also opens the way back to Silvo.
Treasure Chest 6 – the Mogma Mitts
Go through the now accessible door and run down the stairs. Pull the lever to free Silvo from his trap. The Mogma recognizes Link’s old Digging Mitts and, as a thank you, gives him a significantly stronger version.
Open its blue Treasure Chest and you will get the Mogma Mitts. They permanently replace the previous Digging Mitts. You can still dig up normal areas of earth, but you can now also dig completely underground in certain larger holes.
In the Mogma Tunnels, you move Link through an underground grate. You can use your claws to break rocks, push away thunderflowers, activate switches and attack enemies. Especially the Moldorms that you later encounter underground can only be injured on their sensitive rear.
Difference in Skyward Sword HD: With motion controls, you strike underground in a similar way to the Wii original with the controller. With button control, attacks are carried out using the corresponding stick movement. The tunnels themselves and all puzzles are unchanged.
Piece of Heart at the volcano summit
Before we continue exploring the Fire Sanctuary, we leave the dungeon briefly. The Mogma Mitts make another Piece of Heart accessible at the volcanic summit, which we consciously noted on the way there.
Use a bird statue or go back to the entrance of the Grand Sanctuary. From there, run towards the place where we previously extinguished the second fire barrier with a water bottle. There are several grave holes there and Blessed Butterfly near a wall.
First play the Goddess’s Harp if you want to make the Gossip Stone appear. But the grave hole for the butterflies is crucial. Use the Mogma Mitts and dig in. Follow the underground passage to the other exit.
You enter a small hidden cave. The Piece of Heart of the Volcano Summit is waiting there. Take it with you and then return to the Fire Sanctuary.
The next Goddess Cube at Volcano Summit becomes accessible during the Song of the Hero quest.
The first underground passage
Back at Silvos Treasure Chest you will find several places where the Mogma Mitts can be used. Dig into the ground at the hole right next to the grid.
Underground you first destroy the small rocks with your claws. A Bomb blocks the further path. Hit it to make it roll through the tunnel and blow up the large rock in front of you. Then follow the passage to the second beam of light and dig your way back to the surface.
There are also several Rupees underground. They’re not unique collectibles, but since you have to go through the aisle anyway, you can easily take them with you.
Open the first underground gate
After emerging there will be a locked door in front of you. The only alternative path is blocked by a red grid. First, use the Gust Bellows to remove the hot deposits on the floor. Several grave holes appear underneath.
Dig in and look underground for the red switch. Attack him with the Mogma Mitts. This will cause the grate above you to shift. Return to the surface, go through the now free passage and follow the stairs to the next door.
Outdoor shortcut
You are standing outside the sanctuary again. To your right there is a Floor Switch waiting behind a Bokoblin. Eliminate the enemy and step on it. A large grid moves aside, creating a permanent shortcut between previously explored areas.
Return to the door and now follow the eastern path. On the opposite side of the destroyed bridge are several Bokoblin archers. Eliminate them with the bow before crossing the chasm.
Then use the Clawshots to pull yourself to the anchor points on the other side and go through the door.
Hidden Goddess Wall
Before you deal with the captured Mogma, it’s worth taking a little optional detour. In this area you can jump to the lower level below the entrance. Several Blessed Butterfly reveal a hidden one there Goddess Wall.
Play the Goddess’s Harp to make the wall appear. Then load your sword with a Skyward Strike and draw a desired symbol. A heart creates hearts, a circle creates bombs, an arrow provides arrows, a Rupee symbol gives money, and a Triforce can make fairies appear.
Then use the Clawshots to pull yourself back up to the upper level.
Free Bron and get the Dungeon Map
In the next room, another Mogma named Bron is hanging in a trap. A wall of fire blocks access to his prison. First dig under the ground on the southern surface of the earth.
There are two switches underground that move the red gates above you. The order is crucial. If you orient yourself so that the short dead gear is behind your entrance, you first press the right or lower accessible switch and then the one further up on the left. If you swap the order, you block your way back; then simply press a switch again.
Dig yourself out again. The path to the water fruit is now clear. Impale them on your sword and throw them into the mouth of the frog statue. The wall of fire disappears.
Go to the back room and pull the lever to lower Bron to the ground. After recognizing the Mogma Mitts, he thanks Link and digs up a blue Treasure Chest.
Treasure Chest 7 – Dungeon Map
Open Bron’s chest and you will receive the Dungeon Map of the Fire Sanctuary. It is particularly helpful because it not only shows the rooms you have already visited, but also reveals a small hidden area directly east of your current position.
Bron also expressly points out to you that there is a secret room somewhere here.
Secret room and Moldorm tunnel
Look at your new card. A small chamber is drawn directly east of the room, although there is no visible door on the corresponding wall. Place a bomb there. The rock wall breaks open and reveals another grave hole.
Dig in. For the first time underground you will encounter a Moldorm. The long worm moves through the tunnel system and cannot be injured from the front. Its weak point is located as an orange area at the rear end.
If possible, don’t let him drive you into a dead end. It is particularly effective to provoke the Moldorm at an intersection and to avoid it at the last moment. If he runs into a wall, he will be briefly stunned. Sprint behind him and hit the orange tail with the Mogma Mitts.
After each hit, his body becomes shorter and the opponent becomes faster. In total, several hits are necessary. Once he is defeated, follow the tunnel to the second exit.
Treasure Chest 8 – third Small Key
Dig back to the surface at the other end. There is a blue Treasure Chest right next to Link. Inside is the third and final Small Key of the dungeon.
Then return to the area where you defeated the two Magmanos and open the locked door to the north there.
Collect the Fourth Empty Bottle
Before we tackle the last large section of the dungeon, we pick up a particularly valuable optional item. After receiving the Mogma Mitts, you can now return to the room in which the first single Magmanos served as an elevator.
From the bird statue near the outside area, go back to the metal grate. Near the door you will now find a grave site that was not usable before. Dig in and crawl under the red gate. Activate the blue switch so that the grid on the surface moves.
Dig yourself out again and follow the path that has now opened. Step on the Floor Switch and go to the water fruits. Impale one of them with your sword and take it to the Magmanos.
Throw the water fruit at the lava hand. As soon as it petrifies, destroy it with several sword blows. As a result of their death, the lava level drops and a new passage becomes visible on the ground.
Follow the low passage and go through the door.
Treasure Chest 9 – fourth Empty Bottle
A blue Treasure Chest is waiting in the small side room. Inside is another Empty Bottle. If you followed our previous 100% route, this is Link’s fourth bottle of.
Bottles are one of the most useful permanent collectibles in the game because you can carry heart potions, armor potions, fairies, and various quest items in them. You can find a complete overview of all five copies in our guide to all empty bottles in Skyward Sword.
The fifth and final Empty Bottle cannot be collected at this time. Your associated Goddess Cube will only be accessible on a later visit to the volcano summit.
Back on the way to the boss door
Now return to the room where you got the third Small Key and use it on the locked door in the northern area.
You get back into the open air. A huge flow of lava runs from east to west through the gorge and in the distance you can see the boss door again.
Go up the stairs on the right and then down the other side. Several Bokoblins block the way. First defeat all enemies and then shoot the water fruit above the lava. The resulting stone platform takes you to the other side.
Climb the stairs there and go through the door at the end of the path.
Piece of Heart through the Mogma chase
The following room contains a small lava flow as well as several Bokoblins and Dark Keese. Clear all enemies out of the way and then follow the path until a red gate blocks the path.
There is a grave hole in a side niche. Use the Mogma Mitts. Under the ground you will reach a switch that moves the grid. As soon as you press it, however, a Mogma appears and simply puts the switch back.
The frightened Mogma initially thinks Link is a monster and flees through the tunnel system. You have to catch up with him. Hold down the sprint button, use intersections cleverly and try to cut off his path. You don’t have to attack him – just touch him with Link.
As soon as you catch him, he recognizes his friend Silvo’s Mogma Mitts and apologizes for escaping. He opens the gate and also digs up a blue Treasure Chest.
Treasure Chest 10 – Piece of Heart in the Fire Sanctuary
Open the Chest of Mogma and you will receive the only regular Piece of Heart of the Fire Sanctuary. Together with the Piece of Heart previously excavated at the volcano summit, we have already collected two additional heart fragments since receiving the Mogma Mitts.
You can check all other Locations at any time in our guide to all Pieces of Heart.
Activate the last lava flow
Go through the now opened gate. If possible, shoot the Cursed Spume or other enemies in the lava with your bow first. Then you hit the water fruit and let yourself drift on the stone platform over the lava flow to the opposite side.
occurs there on the Floor Switch. This will open a shortcut to the previous area. Directly behind or near the bird statue you will find another grave hole.
Dig in. Underground, a narrow passage leads to a Thunder Flower and a large boulder. Hit the bomb towards the obstacle. After the explosion, the previously blocked lava is released.
Now you have to react quickly. The lava begins to fill the tunnel behind Link. Immediately sprint back to the exit. Use the stamina fruits along the way and release the sprint button briefly before your stamina is completely used up. If the lava reaches Link, you have to try the passage again.
The large lava flow from the outside area is now flowing back to the surface again.
Use the lava platform to the boss door
Return to the previous room. Shoot the water fruit and jump onto the resulting stone platform. Because the lava is now flowing again, it will automatically be carried towards the boss door.
Jump onto solid ground at the right point and activate the bird statue. This statue is particularly practical because you can return directly to Sky from here. However, no further equipment stops are necessary for our route at the moment.
There is a stone tablet opposite the statue. Her message is reminiscent of Goldo’s old remark about two heads facing each other and the “sleeping” guardian.
The jump into the sleeping head
Go to the end of the platform. From here you can jump into the depths in two directions. Looking down. You can see huge stone heads on both sides.
One has its eyes open while the other’s eyes are closed. Goldo’s clue is therefore clear: the right path leads through the sleeping head with closed eyes.
Jump off the corresponding side and steer Link towards the mouth of the statue as he falls. As you approach, a platform will appear. Open the Sailcloth shortly before landing and then let it carry you through its mouth into the hidden lower part of the Grand Sanctuary.
Third Goddess Wall
After landing, steps lead to the next door. Before doing so, pay attention to the Blessed Butterfly in this area. Play the Goddess’s Harp and another Goddess Wall appears.
A heart or fairy symbol is worth it, especially before the final battles of the dungeon. If your bottles are not fully occupied, you can draw a Triforce and take a fairy with you as additional life insurance.
Intermediate fight against two Dark Lizalfos
Behind the door you will be attacked at the same time by two dark Lizalfos. The fight can get nasty if both opponents hit Link with their Curse Cloud at the same time.
Therefore, stay as far as possible at the edge of the room and try to separate one opponent from the other. Your bow is also helpful: you can do damage to them from the raised platform before you engage in close combat.
As with the first Dark Lizalfos, shield attacks work great. Parry an attack, use the stun and first concentrate completely on one opponent. Once there is only one Lizalfos left, the fight becomes much easier.
After the victory, the eastern door will open.
The long spiral staircase and another rare treasure
Behind the door begins a huge round tower with a long spiral staircase. Follow her up. The stairs collapsed in several places. Use the Clawshots there and pull yourself onto the climbing vines on the other side.
On the lower level or in the first part of the tower there are again Blessed Butterfly. Play the Goddess’s Harp if you still want to use a Goddess Wall for healing or arrows.
About halfway up, a gripping point leads into a small niche on the side. Pull yourself onto the climbing vines there and then into the alcove. There is another Treasure Chest with a rare treasure. This optional chest is part of the full exploration of the tower, although the upgrade treasure it contains is not part of a limited collection.
Return to the spiral staircase and follow it to the top. Go through the door there.
The Mystery of the Winged Statues
In the last large puzzle room, the decorated chest with the Big Key is already behind a grille. A stone tablet explains the principle of the puzzle, but its wording can easily be misunderstood.
There are a total of five statues in front of you. What is crucial is not the direction of their wings, but their number. One statue has no wings at all, the next ones each have one, two, three and four.
You have to activate the statues in ascending order: first the statue with 0 wings, then 1, 2, 3 and finally 4 wings.
Dig into the underground tunnel system on the ground. The orange circles correspond to the statues above you. Use the view or orientation aid to check which switch belongs to which statue.
Work systematically from the statue with the fewest wings to the one with the most. A Bomb must be hit against a rock so that the next tunnel section can be reached. Be careful not to accidentally cross the wrong circle, otherwise the puzzle will be reset or activated incorrectly.
Moldorm in the last tunnel
As soon as all five statues have been activated in the correct order, the grate in front of the chest is open, but the exit from the tunnel is blocked. Another Moldorm appears.
You already know the strategy. At intersections, lure him towards you and avoid him so that he runs into a wall if possible. Then sprint behind his body and hit the orange tail. With every hit it gets shorter and faster.
After the last hit, the enemy disappears and you can dig back to the surface.
Treasure Chest 11 – Mysterious Crystals
The grate in front of the large chest is now fully open. Climb the stairs and open them. You will receive the Mysterious Crystals, the Big Key of the Fire Sanctuary.
You have now opened all eleven fixed Treasure Chests of the dungeon. Then go through the western door and step onto Floor Switch. The grate to the area in front of the boss door rises.
Break the jars, refill your hearts and arrows if necessary, and save at the bird statue. If you have a free Empty Bottle, a fairy or a strong heart potion is good insurance for the following fight.
Insert the Mysterious Crystals
Go up the last few steps to the big boss door. Like the previous Big Key, the mystery crystal must be fitted three-dimensionally into the lock.
Skyward Sword HD: With button control, you turn the key with the analog sticks. With motion control or on Wii, alignment is done via appropriate controller movements.
As soon as all the projections point exactly to the recesses, the mystery crystal can be inserted and the gate opens.
Boss: Demon Lord Ghirahim – first battle section
There is no unknown monster waiting behind the door, but again Demon Lord Ghirahim. He’s still looking for Zelda and the Gate of Time and is significantly less amused by Link’s constant interference than he was when they first met him in the Skyview Temple.
The fight essentially consists of:two large sections, with Ghirahim tightening his defense again within the first.
At the beginning he fights similarly to the first duel. He slowly approaches Link and tries to trace the direction of your sword with his hand. If you swing directly from this direction, Ghirahim will intercept the blade. Therefore, first consciously move the sword to one side until his hand follows your movement, and then quickly switch to the opposite direction of strike.
This time, several red crystal daggers also float around his body. Your formation determines which direction you can safely attack from. For example, if they are to the left and right of Ghirahim, you use a vertical punch through the free center. If they are above or below his body, attack horizontally.
Don’t try to force the daggers. If you hit the wrong way, your attack will be blocked and Ghirahim will have an excellent opportunity to counterattack.
Repel Ghirahim’s Crystal Daggers
Ghirahim can also use the crystals directly against Link. Sometimes they appear in a ring immediately around you. Pay attention to their orientation and use an appropriate swing or sword movement to destroy several at the same time.
In another variation, Ghirahim hurls several rows of crystals at Link from a distance. You can dodge them sideways or hit them back with a correctly aimed sword strike.
A Shield Bash is also an excellent defensive option if you have a good command of your timing.
Boss: Ghirahim – second phase of combat with two swords
After enough hits, Ghirahim ends the game with his bare hand and materializes two swords. His defense now resembles a particularly fast Stalfos.
When he approaches Link, he holds both of his blades in front of his body in specific directions. Attack accurately from a direction that is not protected by the swords. If you have identified the opening correctly, you can land several hits in a row before Ghirahim jumps back.
His air attack is particularly dangerous. Ghirahim teleports or jumps high over Link and tries to ram both swords into the ground from above. As soon as it disappears, keep moving and dodge to the side just before it hits. If he misses Link, his swords will be stuck in the ground for a moment. This is one of the best windows of the entire fight – turn around immediately and attack.
Ghirahim also uses quick sword strikes in close combat. A perfectly timed Shield Bash throws him out of rhythm and enables a counterattack. Stay patient and don’t try to break his guard with frantic punches.
After a sufficient number of successful hits, Ghirahim has to accept defeat again and disappears.
Collect the Heart Container after Ghirahim
After the battle, a complete Heart Container will appear. Be sure to collect it. This is independent of the two regular Pieces of Heart that we received in and in front of the Fire Sanctuary and permanently increases Link’s maximum health by one full heart.
Din’s flame and the Master Sword
Go through the now opened door. In the last room there is another altar with the well-known bird symbol. Stand in front of it, hold up the white Goddess Sword and charge a full Skyward Strike. Then hit the coat of arms.
Din’s Flame, the third and final holy flame, appears. Fi absorbs her energy and transfers it to Link’s blade. The white Goddess Sword is transformed into the legendary Master Sword. At the same time, the third Triforce symbol appears on Link’s hand – the Triforce of Power.
The Master Sword deals significantly more damage and has the power to banish evil. However, another property is crucial for the story: His new power is now enough to activate the Gate of Time in the Sealed Temple. This means Link can finally follow Zelda into the past.
However, the sword does not yet have its final form at this point. One last blessing is still missing. Link only receives this later from Zelda or Hylia, whereby the sword finally becomes the fully awakened Master Sword.
Further into the past
Fi now knows Link’s next target: the Sealed Temple in the Sealed Grounds. The Master Sword finally has enough power to activate the large Gate of Time. This allows Link to consciously travel back in time for the first time and see Zelda again.
The story takes a decisive turn there. Link learns Zelda’s’s true role, the Master Sword receives its final blessing and Groose is now working on an unusually powerful weapon to fight the Imprisoned.
Before we leave this new story section, we will of course use all of the newly available 100% options there too. These include additional Side Quests, Gratitude Crystals and an important Piece of Heart on the Goddess Wall.